Junction box



Aug. 11, 1931. J. R. TOWNSEND 1,818,177

JUNCTION BOX Filed Aug. so, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I i I i I z a 3 I I! Q ,4

g WW ,8 z 24% I 3% [/7 17 I I i 1/// l6 l8 I INVENTOR John R. Townsend ,7 A'ITCRNEY Aug. 11, 191 31. J. R. TOWNSEND JUNCTION BOX Filed Aug. 30, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3.

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5 2 0 q M a u nuvu U N n///////// %0 /7/ INVENTOR John R. Townsend ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcEy JOHN B. TOWNSEND, OF LAKE BLUFF, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELEC- TBIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA 'JUNUIION BOX Application filed August 30, 1928. Serial No. 302,944.

This invention relates to current translati'ng devices and has particular relation to cable terminal junction boxes.

An object of the invention is toprovide a cable terminal junction box particularly adapted for short circuiting the cable terminals by the removal of a portion of the cable terminal junction box.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above description particularly suitable for high-voltage use.

A still further object of the invention is to rovide an inexpensive, durable unit.

ferring to the drawings, which like figures indicate like arts:

Figure 1 is a side e evational view of the removable portion of the cable terminal junction box;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the cable terminal junction box body taken along the line IIII of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a tog elevational view of the junction box, an

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the box with the removable rtion in position taken along the line I IV of F g. 2.

It is desirable in street lightin circuits and the like that a cable terminal he placed at the point where the cables of the main circuit enter the lighting standards. These cable terminals must be constructed so that the branch circuit leading to the lighting unit may be deenergized when desired. It is desirable further that the secondary or auxiliary circuits be short circuited in order to prevent any stray potential thereon.

Most of the lighting circuits are of the series type so that if one lighting unit is disconnected, the other lighting units in series with it would be extinguished. Therefore, it is desirable that means be provided so that when one lighting unit is disconnected an automatic cutout is brought into 0 ration and the lighting current shunted ough this connection to keep the remaini lights burning. n accomplishing the objects of the invention, a receptacle or base 1 is provided of porcelain or other suitable insulating material. A plurality of recesses or wells 2' are provided in the inside of the receptacle and these wells are separated by an insulating barrier 3. Two pairs of recesses 4, 5, 6 and 7 extend from the lower outer wall of the rece tacle into the'lower portion of the receptac e and metallic terminals or bush ings 8 and 9 are adapted to be located therein, the purpose of the terminals being to make electrical connection with the cables 11 and 12 of the main and branch circuits. The recesses 4, 5, 6 and 7 do not connect directly with the wells 2 but terminate on each side of the wells. Sockets 13 are provided inthe bushings and the wires of the cables 11 may be inserted therein and clamped into place by means of the screws 14. Other screws 15 are threaded into the terminal bushings 8 and extend through the receptacle into the inner recesses where they make contact with contact members 16 which extend downwardly into the lower portion of the wells. The contact members 1601 the base and cap 19 are of the usual well known series cutout type and comprise two sets ofsprings 17 and 18, the shorter spring 18 being adapted for engaging the prongs 210i the cap. V

The cap or plug member 19'is provided with four downwardly extending prongs 20 andp. 21 which are fastened by 1 means of screws 22 to downwardlyextending portions 23 of the porcelain plug. .These prongs are provided in pairs and are inwardy curved so that they normally make contact with one another. However, the prongs are separated by means of a film cutout 24' of the type wellknown to the art or by other insulating members which are disposed between the prongs and are held by reason of the resil- 1 iency of the prong members. The pairsvof prongs are connected b connectors 25. The prongs are provided with a shoulder portion 26. adapted to be engaged by the spring 18 hereinbefore mentioned for the purpose of holding the plug in place on the receptacle. A ledge 27 is provided on the inside of the receptacle having a resilient facing 28 disposed thereon for resiliently engagin the plug when it is in place in the receptacfia.

It is apparent t at when the plug is in Qij place in the receptacle, electrical connection is made with the cable terminals 11 by means of terminals 8, screws 15, and contacts 16 in the base, through prong 20, connector 25 5 and prong 21 of the plug member, through contacts 16, screws 15 and bushing 9 to cable terminal 12.

lVhen the plug is removed, the contacts 16 of the base maize contact with each other and 10 short circuit the cable terminals 11 and 12, respectively, thereby electrically connecting the main circuit conductors and short circuiting the branch circuit.

It may readily be understood that this in- 15 vention provides a structure which is particularly well constructed electrically by reason of the closed or non-communicating recesses 5, wells 2, barrier 3 and cap 19. The recesses 5 may readily be sealed with insulating compound. The connectors are so arranged that the connectors have ample current carrying capacity and the device will function under severe operating conditions.

Although a specific modification of the device has been described, it is apparent that other modifications may be made by those skilled in the art and such modifications may be made without departing from the spirit 0 and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A cable terminal comprising a body portion and a cap, said body portion being disposed to provide a plurality of wells and ledges in each of the wells, contacts fastened in the ledges and extending downwardly into said wells, said cap being provided with a longitudinally disposed depending insu- 40 lating portion, a plurality of pairs of downwardly extending contact members fastened to the insulating portion and bars of conducting material connecting corresponding contact members.

2. A cable terminal comprising a body portion, said body portion being disposed to provide a plurality of wells, ledges on opposite walls of each of the wells, the ledges being disposed to provide recesses in which holding screws are located, contacts fastened to the holding screws and extending downwardly into the Wells, and a cap provided with coacting contact members for making contact with the contacts in the base.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 14th day of August, 1927.

JOHN R. TOWNSEND. 

